New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-24
THE FUTURE OF THE RANGES
, AN EXPERT VIEW OF THE SITUATION.

HEALTHY CONDITION AND FAIR PROSPECTS OF TIT
CATTLE INDUSTRIAL LETTER FROM THE PREsI.
DENT OF THE LANCE CREEK CATTLE COMPANY
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In view of the fact that of late the Eastern
nress has devoted SO much space to the great cattle
industry of the Western plains and, in the majority
Of cases the statements have been either erroneous
misleading from q cattle mans point Of view, beg
the privilege of adding my testimony.
If any other industry in the land had been COM
mepted mon in the public prints has the one before
u.s. it would have been CALAMITY chanpioned long ago
That the cattle interest has not been champoned Ia
due TO at least two First though il may seem
oute incredible to Eastern people, the newspapers of
the Atlantic Coast almost unkno to the people in
that vast region lying between the Missouri Valley and
the Rocky Mountains Second those interested in cat
tle raising having interests east of Chicago he
bulk of their product being sold not fur Their east than
that city quite Indifferent as to the opinions of
e her journals or people beyond the limits of their
sphere Of action But think the people of the Eastern
States depending upon their newspapers for current
news, should not be misnforined concerning an in
dustry that virtually absorbs another section of the
country: an Industry whose operations an area
of $50 900 square miles of our land, or say per
cent of onr whole domain exclusive Of Alaska in
dustrv representing more than four hundred millions
of dollars invested capital an industry supplying the
stape of life not only TO orr own country but largely
10 fhe rest of the civilized world. Statistics showed
lin 1881 n total deficiency of 791 900 tons OF meat
in Europe, which had TO be supplied chiefly by
America. 80
\
raising in the far West especially in the Northwest
hs undergone many and great changes within the last
very few years: The time has passed when man
mako a vast fortune in a few years. But | most em-
phaticaly deny the recently published statements that
the successful days entirely things OF the past that
The great industry Is ruined that the business is
done the natural grasses eaten TO the roots and totally
DESTROYED millions of dollars irretrcvably lost. and
capitalists leaving the country precpitatey. If tho
grasses are gone and the cattle dying, how is it
fiat Wyoming and Montana have sent nearly 300 900
beef steers TO market during the wear Just closed
Statistics fail to show pursuit wherein the per
centape of failures is nearly ninitesimp IN the
cattle industry Every day We read IL ng lists OF com
mercia failures while the failures among the cattle
men, since their industry was hrst begun may almost
be counted upon ones fingers
tempted by the fortunes already made IN cattle ras-
ing have rushed in unadyisedly and bought what
proved 10 be almost fictitious herds ut exorbitant
prices Foreg ign capitalists, tempted by the promised
largo returns have sent their money freely into the
plains and impractical men have assumed the manage
ment OF large herds Such companies as these have
OF course been disappointed bat even those thus
handicapped have not failed With all their supcrilu
ous expense account and large salary lists they have
in most instances succeeded in paying interest on their
capital On the other hand the practical. experienced
cattle man has made money not the fortunes OF few
ears ago put satisfactory for his labors and
capital inv esed The man who paws only for the cat
tie he tuys. accepting no book count hut Tally
ing" his purchases has his herd properly assorted ns
TO and ages looking ahead both 70 his steer herd
and his breeding herd. and looks personally after his
own business. is oound 10 surceed. Look at the FOL
lowing figures given by the Hon. Norman j. Coman,
Commissioner OF Agriculture, in recent address at
Chicago before tho National Convention OF Stockmcn
II supply and demand enter into tho question 1t GER
tainly looks ~ thou IN the cattle OF the plains
might find good business for the next few years ut
least
In $50 there were In this country. East and
West go cattle TO the loo population In 1860
sI4; In 1880, ZIG: in 1855 772 thus showing that
we have just about tho same number of cattle per
thousand inhabitants that We had in 1850, and less
than we had in ls6O. In 1850 had population
of %, lD1,s76 and 17.779.0OO head Of cattle. In
1855 our population was estiUated at 3I,oO0,ooo
and our cattle at 4i.OOOODO. Although our cattle
have increased in an almost fabulous manner, pop
ulation has increased with equal rapIdhy
The stock grower of the Northwest Is no longer de-
pendent upon the drives from the far Sonh for his
young stock. lie now has his own breeding herds and
from experience has learned what breeding viii result
IN animals bert fitted 10 with the rigorous climate
of the high plains and mature into the beet beef.
OREGON and Washington Territory have gone largely
into the breeding business aud can nov supply all The
adjacent soct:-s of "range country" with as many
young cattle already aoclimatei hr average stock
grower needs Hence the acts Of prohibition passed by
of the central Western States preventing cattle
fro'u the far South crossing their domain, do not work
any great detrment TO the rangcmen of the North.
The range cattle business simply passing
through ono of those seasons Of reaction that invnn
ably follow a successful period. The experienced
cattle who has seen these ups ano downs IN past
years. IL Mt all disturbed by the present state Of
nfairs but feels confident that the industry ~ IN
healthy condition fact sure 10 secure more stable
future is that the available for cattle raising is
almost entirely occupied hence tho disturbance
arising from the establishment of new breeding herds
sections is to any apprecable extent an mpoS-
sib'lity.
In confirmation of nv views permit to quote from
a letter recently addressed TO The Boston Journal
over the signatures OF the following leading catte
Of Cheyenne. Wyoming Territory Thomas sturgis,
president Union Cattle Company and president OF the
Stock Growers National Bank T. II. Hicks, treasurer
of the Converse Cattle Company and president OF the
First National Bank A. 7. Rabbit general manager
Swan Brothers: ~ II. Davis, president Cheyenne
National Bank +. h. Warren, president Warren Live
Stock Company and late Governor OF Wyoming Terri
.The principal losses have been among cattle
brought 10 this country from Texas other Southern
points in thin condition IN the fall Of the year As
bankers can state that We know Of but one forced
sion during tho past year, and do not believe
thai per of the cattle rasers o the plains
TO- day Insolvent ything near IL. We have
the condition of affairs In this regard price decidedly
than II Is at present The exodus into Montana
and the British posse s-ions Of that class of who
always believe that the next country further Is the
paradise for which they are looking has greatly re-
ieved the ranges of this Territory, ana with the
ception of small localities they oday well
grassed and "a capable OF supporting stock they
five years ago We nothing in the prospect
regarding IL practical men. looking II in
its entire scOpe-to prevent the permanent and pros
porous continuing Of the business for years 10 come
also quote paragraph from recent letor from
Judge Charles W. Wright, of Denver, who has been
on the plains of Wyoming. Colorado and Arizona for
many years. lie writes " For myself 1 cannot see
how the business be overdone 'Ripa beck ca are
worth much to-day IA they when the big diy |
dends paid. Transportation, wages and provis- |
ions are less. Bccycs cannot be manufactured de- !
nand cannot increase the supply. Mature az you may
have heard attends TO this part OF the mesa Nv
own experience corresponds with the balances from
nv books. namely. that the cattle business OF to-day
honestly and skiliully managed is few points better
han |. wes."
Hoping that have been able to present tho oo.tlo
side OF the story in clear and compreLensiblo
way. and that 1t may carry measure OF conviction
with it. / yours very truly.
CHARLES +. SMILE
President OF the Lance Creek Cattle Company of |
Wyoming Territory.
Ndr- York, JAN 10. 1887.